Machine for cutting i-beams



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. M. OARNAHAN.

v MACHINE FOR CUTTING I-BEAMS, CHANNEL BARS, &0.

No. 392,662.; Patented Nov. 18, 1888..

WITNESSES. INVENTOR.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- O. M. CARNAHAN.

MACHINE FORGUTTING I-BEAMS, CHANNEL BARS, &o. No. 392,662. Patented 0v.13, 1888 WITNESSES INVENTOR.

N, PETERS Fholo-Lilhugrapher. Washingw. ac

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CYRUS M. OARNAHAN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR CUTTlNG I-BEAMS, CHANNEb-BARS, c.

QPE CIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,662, datedNovember 13, 1888.

Application filed August 16, 1886. Serial No. 211.003.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CYRUS M. OARNAHAN, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Outting I-Beams, Channels, See; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in machines for cutting I beamsor bars,channelbars, and other metal shapes crosswise, and isillustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure1 is a side view of the machine, the knife-block being shown in section.Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the knife-block. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section on the line 2 z of Fig. 2, showing the moving knifein 0011- nection with the bed knives or dies. Fig. 4 is a verticalcross-section on the linear or of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line y y of Fig.-

2. Fig. 6 is a front view of the machine, showing the mechanism forfeeding the! beams or bars to the knives. Fig. 7 is a plan view of thefeeding mechanism. Fig. Sis a vertical cross-section on the line w w ofFig. 7. Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section on the line 12 o of Fig. 7.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

I shall first describe the part of the machine which relates especiallyto the cutting of the I beams or bars, and shall finally describe thefeeding mechanism whereby the beams or bars are fed to the cutters.

In the drawings, 2 indicates the rotary main shaft of the machine, onwhich is a cam, 3, which works in a yoke at the end of arocking lever,4.

5 is the cutter fixed to the lower end of a head or plunger, 6, which,being connected by a link, 7, with the free end of the rockinglever, isreeiprocated vertically by rotation of the shaft 2. The lever at ispivoted at a, and the cutter-head 6 slides in suitable guideways, 8.

My invention has especial reference to the construction of the cutters,and not to the means for actuating them. It is therefore not restrictedto the driving mechanism which I have described. The bed-knives 10 ofthe machine are preferably two in number, ar-

(No model.)

ranged side by side in a suitable block, 9, and separated sufficientlyto afford a slot or space, 12, for the passage of the moving cutter 5.(See the figures on the first sheet of the drawings.) Each bed-knife ispreferably madein two parts, 0 and d, Fig. 3, an end view of which, whenput together, is approximately the same in outline as a cross-section ofthe Ibeam to be cut, Fig. 3, since it has a central raised cuttingedge,e, on which the web of the beam rests, and at the sides of this arespaces adapted to receive the flanges of the beam, and the outersides,h,of these spaces constitute cutting-edges for bracing and cuttingthe flanges. The parts 0 of the knives are confined in the block 9 bybolts 11, and the parts dare fastened to a movable section, 6, of theblock 9 by bolts 12, and by means of the bolts 11 and 12 the knives 10are movable laterally toward and away from each other,so as to adjustthe width 'of the slot 1) when necessary. The section 6 of the block isconnected with the fixed portion thereof by a tongue and groove, asshown in Fig. 5,which allow the movable part carrying the parts (Z ofthe knives to slide toward and away from the fixed parts 0 of theknives, but prevent it from moving laterally.

The knives are made adjustable for cutting I-beams of different widthbetween the outer sides of the flanges by means of a tapering wedge-key,14., connecting the sliding section c with the block 9, Figs. 2 and 3,since by moving the key in one direction or the other the knife-sectionscan be separated or brought together to the desired degree. The purposeof this is to so adjust the distance between the cutting-edges h of theknives that they may be adjusted to fit beams of varying width, and thusto afford at all times a support for the sides thereof. This produces aneatand clean cut, and is especially desirable when the beam to be cutis of large size, because in such beams the variation in width evenbetween the products of similar rolls is often considerable.

The moving cutter 5 is shown in side elevation in Fig. 3. Its thicknessis such that it will pass easily through the space 1) between thebed-knives, and near its lower end it has its cutting-edges f tapered orinclined. The inclination of the edges is important and use ful. I haveshown a further tapering of the cutting-edges at the base of the tool atg, which produces a point or angle at the middle. This is of value, inthat it causes the cutting to commence at a point between the outerlines of the I beam or shape and to extend progressively outward, andthus reduces the strain on the tool.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The parts 0 and d of theknives 10 having been adjusted to accommodate the size of the I- beamsto be cut, the beam is placed on the bedknives so as to lie transverselyto the slot b, as shown in Figs. 3,4, and 5. The driving mechanism ofthe maehineis then thrown into gear and the movingknife 5 descends. Thepoint at the base of the knife first begins to cut the middle portion orweb of the beam, acting in conjunction with the edges at the top of theraised portion 0 of the bed-knives, and as the knife moves farther thecut in the web is lengthened, until finally the tapering edges f engagethe flanges of the bar, and, in conjunction with the cutting-edges it,cut the flanges. The action of the tool is rather like a combined punchand shear than a knife, since it punches and shears out a bit of thebeam equal in length to the width of the beam and in thickness equal tothe thickness of the cutter 5. This punched piece drops through the slot1), which, to afford clearance therefor, is preferably flared at theends by proper shaping of the knives, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is clear that with proper modificationssuch as will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art-the machine may, by changing theconfiguration of the bed-knives, be adapted to cut channel-bars,angle-iron, T-iron, U-iron, Z-iron, hollow triangular iron,and otherirregular shapes, and in cutting T-beams or similar shapes having only asingle flange this flange on one side of the beam is the only one whichneed be braced or supported laterally, and the bed-knife may be shapedaccordingly.

I have described it with I beams or bars so as to illustrate theprinciple of my invention; but I do not limit its scope solely thereto.

In the figures on the second sheet of the drawings I show a device forfeeding the beam to the cutter. It comprises a frame or table, 15, thesurface of which is constituted by rails which lead up toward thecutting mechanism. Mounted on these rails is a truck, 16, which is movedby an endless chain, 17, passing around a driven wheel, 18. This wheelis driven by a belt, 19,which drives a pulley, 20, mounted loosely onthe shaft of the wheel 18, and provided with a clutch, 21, for engagingit with and disengaging it therefrom, so as to drive the wheel and movethe truck at the will of the operator. In feeding the beam to themachine the rear end ofit is put upon the truck 16, as shown in Figs. 6and 7, and the forward end is rested on a wheel, 22, which is looselyjournaled on a vertically-moving lever, 23. This lever is shown indetail in Fig. 9. In feeding the bar the lever is raised so as toelevate the supporting-wheel 22 and to direct the I-beam at aninclination above the level of the bed-knives. The lever 23 is. upheldin this position by means of a swinging leg, 24, which is adapted torest upon one of the rails of the frame 15 when the lever is lifted, asin Fig. 9. The truck is then set in motion and carries the beam forward.When it reaches the desired position, the truck is stopped and,

the lever 23 is lowered,so as to drop the I-beam upon the bed-knives inthe proper position to be cut.

I am aware of the French Letters Patent granted to M. \Vaternau in theyear 1866, and do not desire to claim what is therein shown anddescribed.

I claim 1. In a machine for cutting irregular metal beams-such asIbeams-the combination of the bed-knife having double cutting-edgeswhich receive and support the beam laterally and vertically, and amoving knife, 5, having straight inclined converging cutting-edges g,forcutting the web or middle portion of the beam, and inclined lateralcuttingedges f, which cut the outer portions or flanges of thebeannsubstantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In an apparatus for cutting irregular metal shapes, a bed-knifehaving double cutting-edges whose supportingsurface isshaped to conformto the outline in cross-section of the shape to be cut to receive andsupport the same laterally and vertically, said bed-knife being made oftransversely adjustable parts, substantially as and for the 'purposesdescribed.

3. The combination of the adjacent bedknives 10, separated to afford anintervening slot or space, b, but movable and adjustable toward and fromeach other, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination,with a machine for cutting metal beams, of a truckfor feeding the beam to the cutters, and an endless chain for moving thetruck, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The combinatiomwith a machine for cut ting metal beams, of a movabletruck supporting an end of the beam, and a vertically-movable wheelsupporting the other cnd thereof, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

In testimony whereof I havehcreunto set my hand this 10th day of August,A. D. 1886.

CYRUS M. CARNAIIAN. Witnesses:

THOMAS 1V. BAKEWELL, H. L. CASTLE.

